The present study examines Japanese expressions related to the human eye, specifically the eye&#8217;s behavior as well as its various appearances. Among the meanings of these expressions, one finds an emphasis on judgment &#8211; of the object viewed or of the viewer&#8217;s emotional reaction or basic personality. The eye also forms the basis for an image schema motivating metaphoric uses of &#8216;eye&#8217; to describe non-bodily matter. The schema of Japanese social hierarchy, which underlies a wealth of pragmatic variation in utterance forms (and has consequences for behavior), is based on a verticality metaphor that classifies people as &#8216;person/s above/below [the] eye&#8217;. Thus, expressions regarding eye contact between interlocutors reveal important details about the nature of their social interaction. Gender norms are also reflected in certain &#8216;eye&#8217;-related expressions. The findings of this study further our understanding of embodiment in language and culture in general as well as in Japanese in particular.